Taylor Hall has had enough of the Buffalo Sabres amidst a disastrous 16-game losing streak. Hall told reporters Thursday that he’s open to waiving his no-move clause and being traded by the Sabres.
The Sabres were shutout 4-0 by the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, which marked a franchise record 16th straight loss. The team was without coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis for the game due to NHL COVID-19 protocol guidelines.
That's a wrap from Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/gjIbxmNl5L
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 26, 2021
It’s safe to say things haven’t gone as planned for Hall in Buffalo. The former Hart Trophy winner signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Sabres in October after leaving his previous team, the Arizona Coyotes, because he wanted to play for a “contender”.
The plan for Hall in Buffalo by coach Ralph Krueger was to play the speedy winger on a loaded top line with superstar Jack Eichel. Here’s what Hall told the Buffalo News back in October about choosing the Sabres in free agency:
“It’s a place [Buffalo] that I could see myself for a while,” Hall said. “Three years ago, no one would’ve thought that Colorado would be the No. 1 destination for guys to go to. And things can happen and things can turn pretty quick, especially if you have elite pieces like the Sabres do. And I really believe that.”
Things change quickly when you plummet to the bottom of the NHL standings. Eichel managed just two goals in his first 21 games of the 2021 season before suffering a neck injury that will keep him out for the “foreseeable future”. Hall only has two goals and 17 points in 32 contests for the Sabres. Buffalo is 6-22-4 on the year.
Things are brutal in Buffalo with the April 12th NHL trade deadline fast-approaching. A reporter bluntly asked Hall during Thursday’s post-game media availability if the 29-year-old was open to being traded.
“With the way things are going, if Kevin [Adams] came up to you and said someone is interested in you, would you be willing to listen?”, asked the reporter.
Taylor Hall: “Yeah for sure”
"Yeah, for sure."
– Taylor Hall, who has a no-move clause, on whether he'd be willing to listen to trade options if Sabres GM Kevyn Adams gets offers.
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) March 26, 2021
Video:
Hall would have to waive his no-move clause to be traded out of Buffalo, but with how poorly things have gone for the Sabres, it’s clear he wouldn’t mind getting off this sinking ship.
